People charged for escape make court appearances

Three people charged in connection to an alleged Dec. 29 escape from the Leavenworth County Jail appeared in court Wednesday.

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By John Richmeier

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

By John Richmeier

Posted Jan. 17, 2013 at 8:30 AM

By John Richmeier
Posted Jan. 17, 2013 at 8:30 AM

Three people charged in connection to an alleged Dec. 29 escape from the Leavenworth County Jail appeared in court Wednesday.

Joshua A. Showalter, 25, made his second court appearance for a charge of obstructing apprehension or prosecution. Amber D. Hall, 23, also appeared Wednesday in Leavenworth County District Court for a charge of obstructing apprehension or prosecution. And James R. Hill, 29, appeared in court for a charge of aiding an escape.

Showalter, Hall and Hill are accused of providing assistance in some way to Raheem K. Armstead. Armstead is charged with aggravated escape from custody for allegedly running away from the Leavenworth County Jail Dec. 29.

At the time, Armstead was a trusty at the jail. Authorities allege he fled while taking garbage to an outside receptacle. He was arrested Dec. 31.

Hill is accused of assisting Armstead to escape. Hall and Showalter are accused of harboring, concealing or aiding Armstead.

Wednesday in court, a preliminary was scheduled for Showalter. The hearing is set for Jan. 25.

Showalter’s court-appointed attorney, Benjamin Casad, asked District Judge Gunnar Sundby if he would consider allowing the defendant to be released on his own recognizance.

“He’s got a job,” Casad said.

The attorney expressed concern his client may lose the job if he remains in jail.

Sundby reviewed Showalter’s criminal history. The judge denied the request for what is called an “OR” bond. And based on further review, Sundby said he felt the bond should be increased to $75,000.

It was said that bond had been set at $17,500.

Showalter appeared in court later in the day for motions to revoke his probation for two earlier cases. Casad suggested these cases be taken up at the time of the preliminary hearing because one of the allegations made against Showalter in the revocation proceedings deals with the new obstruction charge.

The revocation cases were continued until Jan. 25.

Sundby said Wednesday he tentatively was scheduling a Jan. 25 preliminary hearing for Hall, but her court-appointed attorney, Roger Horsky, indicated he may have a conflict in the case. Hall was in the custody of officers from the Leavenworth County Jail when she made her court appearance.

When Hill appeared in court Wednesday, Assistant County Attorney Sherri Becker presented a copy of an amended complaint to Sundby. The amended complaint included a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon in addition to the aiding an escape charge. The weapon Hill is alleged to have concealed was identified in the complaint as a dagger.

Hill, who is free on bond, said he has hired an attorney but the lawyer was not present for the court appearance.